Wagon-tongue support



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

J. T. DOUGINE. I WAGGN TONGUE SUPPORT. NO. 295,237. I Patented Mar. 18, 1884 puns 7 g: z z ,WZKYEESEE. I W 'W 5% N. PETERS. Phetauuu n vm. Washington. DJ;

(No Model.)

- J. T .-DOUGINE.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2. WAGON TONGUE SUPPORT. No. 295,237.

Patented MELIi. 18, 1884.

time

WAGON-TONGUE. SUPPORT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.295,237, dated March 18, 1884.

Application filed November 3, IEES. (No model.)

To CeL-ZZ 1072 0277, it may concern.-

' specification.

My invention relates to devices for supporting the tongues of vehicles.

The object of the invention is to provide a cheap, simple, efficient, and durable device for supporting the tongue, and which will allow the tongue at the same time to turn or swing around freely horizontally; and to this end my invention consists in supporting the tongue by means of a coil compression-spring and a curved rod secured to the bottom or end of the wagon-box, one end of the spring being connected to this curved rod by means of a hook or other device, so as to slide freely thereon as the tongue is turned, and the other end of the spring being fastened to the tongue.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a perspective view of adevice embodying my invention.' Figs. 2 and 3 are bottom views of the wagon box or body, showingthe curved rod or rail attached, and Fig. l is a sectional elevation.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts wherever used.

In the drawings, A represents the wagon or other vehicle body or box, and B the tongue hinged to the axle at b.

C is a curved rod or guide-rail secured to the bottom or other part or the body A by means of brackets c, attachedto the under side of the rod 0 at one end,and secured at the other end, by means of screws or bolts c,to the bottom A, iuteriorly of the curved rod 0, so as not to interfere with the free sliding thereon of the compression-spring, which is suspended therefrom.

l) is a coil-spring. The pull-rod d of the spring is secured at one end to thetongue Bby means of the bolt cl", and at its other extremity to the flat end plate 65*, which presses against or rests uponthe opposite extremity of the coilspring D, which surrounds the pull-rod. The pull-rod d passes loosely through the end plate (1 and is secured thereto adjustably by the double pull-rod d fits astridethe end pate Y d'jthe two end plates standing at rightangles to each other, so that the end plates serve as guides to the sliding of the pullrods upon each other, as well as to cause the pressure to con ieevenly and squarely upon the spring, and to stiffen or guide the coils in their contraction or expansion. As the hooli d slides or swings around on the curved rod 6 as the tongueturns in either direction, I am by this means enabled to attach the spring to the tongue. at a considerable distance from the point where it is hinged to the axle, thereby obtaining a good lifting purchase, thus increasing the durability and efficiency of the springand rendering itunnecessaryto employ so strong a spring. vehicle areadaptcd to'turn underthebodythe curved rod 0 should be extended, so as to form a nearly complete or complete circle, as shown in Fig. 3, so as to permit the spring to swing completely around with the tongue.

In connection with my curved rod, 1 have herein shown and described a coil compressionspring, as that I consider to be the best method known to me of practicing my inven' tion; but other springs may be used, and some of the advantages of my invention may be secured by using a rigid connecting link or rod to support the tongue i'rom the curved rod 0, instead of a spring.

In Fig. 1 I have shown in dotted lines the curved rod 0 secured tothe end of the vehicle box or body, which is a preferable modcof attachment in many vehicles. The rod 0 should be circular, so as not to raise or lower the end of the tongue as it swings around; but sonic of the advantages of my invention may be secured if the rod has a different curve, or is even straight. The rod C may also in some cases If the fore wheels of the be attached to the bolster. The curved rod 0,

from whichthe connecting-springis suspended, and upon which it slides as the tongue is turned, serves to throw the point of attachment of the connecting spring forward, so that the spring will occupy approximately a vertical position, as shown in Figs. land 4, and at the sametime permit of thelower end of the spring being attached to the tongue at a pointsufficientlyforward of its hinges to readily lift or support the tongue.

around thereon as the tongue turns, the tongue will swing in a horizontal plane, though its point of attachment is, by means of said curved rod, brought a considerable distance in front of the kingbolt.

By use of the term rod or curved rod in this specification, andin the combina tion claimed, I do not wish to be understood as :meaning or including thereby a mere strap or:staplesuch as that shown in Letters Patent No. 239,382, dated March 29,1881-forse- The-rod 0 being curved, and the connecting-spring D being adapted to slide the tongue turns, and therefore such strap does not perform the function of the curved rod in my invention; and I wish it to be distinctly understood that I disclaim the device shown in said Patent No. 239,382, as forming no part of my invention.

WVhat I claim is- 1. In a vehicle-tongue supporter, the combination, with a curved rod or guide-rail secured to the vehicle box or body, of aconnecting device suspended therefromto thetongue, said connecting device being adapted to slide around on said curved rod as the tongue is turned, substantially as specified.

2. The combination, with a curved rod secured to the vehicle box or body, of a springconnection to the tongue suspended from said curved rod, and adapted to slide'around on the same as the tongue is turned, substantially'as specified.

3. The vehicle-tongue supporter consisting of a rod secured to the vehicle, and a springconnecting device attached to the tongue,and adapted to slide around on said rod as the tongue is turned, substantially as'specified.

JAMES T. DOUGINE.

Witnesses:

, EDMUND ADCOOK,

H; M. lVIUNDAY. 

